Quilts Through the Seasons: A Quilt for Each Month of the Year » (SPIRAL)

Twenty nine years ago Eleanor Burns introduced her first Quilt in a Day book, cultivating a quiltmaking revolution. She presented her unique style, a diverse combination of cutting and sewing applications, creating new techniques altogether. Her concise step by step directions are easy to grasp, allowing the possibility for anyone to be successful at making a quilt. Eleanor Burns gave quiltmakers techniques that compacted months into merely a day, a quilt in a day, spreading her vibrant enthusiasm within everyone. She has motivated thousands of want-to-be quilters with needed confidence and assurance. Altogether, the impact of her influences opened the door to a renewal. Her efforts sowed the seeds that have grown into many techniques that are commonly used today. Since 1978 when she self-published her first book "Make a Quilt in a Day: Log Cabin Pattern," she has authored over seventy five additional books. Throughout the world today, there are thousands of inst!ructors teaching her quiltmaking methods. Her first Quilt in a Day TV series began airing on PBS in 1990 and is still broadcast nationwide and abroad and now her shows can be seen on the world wide web on QNN and Quilters TV.

Eleanor has created a palette of quilt patterns to symbolize the months of the year.Autumn is harvest time with cool, crisp air offering welcome relief from hot summer days. Using Eleanor's easy applique technique, grace your fall table with "Harvest Tablerunner," a cornucopia of the earth's bounty. Eleanor uses 5" charm squares to create the "Buckeye Beauty", a scrappy quilt that is as delightful to make as it is to admire. For traditional flair, the "Country Lane Quilt" fits the bill. From a 1930's Mountain Mist Batting pattern, Eleanor adds her special touch to make this quilt extra special.Winter brings to mind a time of gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. A season to cozy up to a warm fire and sip cocoa. A season to take the chill off with a new quilt. What could be better on a cold winter day than to sit and stitch a traditional "Morning Star Quilt" or a "Lodgepole Pine Quilt" for festive holiday decor. Fussy cut a lovely motif for the center of your Morning Star, Eleanor shows you how! Embellish your Lodgepole Pine Quilt with a scarlet red Cardinal to add flair. For the perfect Victorian Valentine, Eleanor teaches a paper pieced wall hanging "My Crazy Valentine" that lends itself to creative embellishment with machine stitchery, laces, and antique buttons.Rebirth of barren trees and frozen ground signals that spring is just around the corner. Flowers abound in buds and new growth. Eleanor presents "Baskets and Bows" and "Twin Sisters" quilts, perfect patterns to show off lovely floral fabrics. To complete the season, "Gone Fishing" is a whimsical quilt that incorporates piecing and easy applique. Just the quilt for that special little boy.Summermonths deliver warm sunshine and dreams of lazy afternoons. "Summer Porch" and "Pink Lemonade" quilts fit the bill for pleasurable sewing. "Summer Porch" is delightful with flowered fabric and crisp lattice and cornerstones. What hot summer day would be complete without a "Pink Lemonade"